When Dreams Seem Far Away: A Story of Hope

Six months ago I had a dream–a dream of 100 women in a lovely setting, feeding themselves on wisdom; connecting to their creativity (and thus, by default to the divine), and laughing with their new-found soulsisters. I put everything else in my business on hold. I stopped work on my book. I didn’t launch any new classes or products. I gave myself 100 percent to the Soul Sister’s retreat, and I did so with vast, vast joy.

The Soul Sisters gathering is now seven weeks away and we have 26 fascinating women registered, plus 10 kind and winsome teachers and staff. A far cry from 100, to be sure. With a gathering of this size there’s no profit to be made. No records to be set. No great surge of word-of-mouth to be captured.

And you know what? I’m fine with it.

A year ago this shift in size would have thrown me into a tizzy. I wouldÂ have cried, questioned my judgment, and eaten half a pan of brownies. But right now, at this point in my work–in myÂ self–itÂ barely gives me pause.

Why?

Because when the dream took me over, I wasn’t dreaming about numbers. I was dreaming about you.

Yes, the numbers make doing this kind of work more sustainable. 50 makes it is break even, 100 makes it perfectly profitable and thus do-able over the long run. But I wasn’t dreaming of dollar signs or bank balances. I was dreaming about you.

Dreaming of whatÂ you need to bring all the intelligence and power within you out into the world.
Dreaming of what you need to feel filled up, well fed, and fully loaded.
Dreaming ofÂ what you could do if your selfcare was sufficient enough to release all the skills, and wisdom, and creativity within you.

It gives me shivers really. Because a woman released in such a way could move mountains–with ease, with joy.Â That’s how powerful you are.

Yes, when I dreamed of this gathering six months ago, I saw you getting both the inspiration andÂ the YBH (Yes, but how?)Â that would serveÂ you with clarity and practicality. IÂ saw Rachel sitting with you in a circle, teachingÂ you how to finally, finally feedÂ yourself with health and with compassion. I dreamt of Bridget giving you a new tool for selfcare by introducingÂ you to each powerful and precious chakra. IÂ saw Liz pouring words like water over your thirsty soul; and Jenna releasingÂ your voiceÂ so you can tell yourÂ powerful story. I sawÂ Vivienne teaching you how to love, love, love every curve and angle of your body; and Darrah snapping your picture as you unexpectedly smiled. I watched Molly give you the most amazing tool for going your own way; and saw Kelly lean in, with a flower tucked behind her ear, justÂ to hear your question.

And IÂ saw allÂ the small, powerfulÂ things that happened in the in-between moments as well. IÂ saw a picture ofÂ a proud-but-tiredÂ mama sitting in a quiet bedroom with time enough to hearÂ her own heart. I imagined really fascinating new friends laughing with you inÂ the hot pool. IÂ thoughtÂ of how it might feel for youÂ to eat a mealÂ you didn’t cook, to sleep in a bedÂ you didn’t make, to have, for this one weekend, time to tendÂ your own baby soul.

None of that changes if there’s less than 100. In fact, it just gets better.

Now my dream is even richerÂ –becauseÂ now I seeÂ youÂ getting more time with each of the coaches and teachers. I see you feel comfortable and not overwhelmed by the size of the group. And I see me, with time toÂ hold your hand, look you in the eye, and say, “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Watching myself respond to the shift in a dream has been a pivotal moment for me. My father is fond of calling disappointments, “the death of a dream.” And then he says that when one dream dies it’s so another one–a better one–can come to fruition. I think there’s a lot of wisdom in that–when we’re clenching too hard, when our chest is tight with apprehension. But I’m not holding the dream ofÂ the Soul Sisters gathering in that kind of way. This time, no matter what the changes, I still know that I Know, that I KNOW thisÂ work of gathering and healing, teaching and empowering is mine to do.Â It’s a beautiful thing, this freeing of the dream. And I want you to make sure you know this too, for your dream:

What about you, my magpie? Is there a dream you’ve been working on that isn’t quite coming together? Do you feel depleted with the effort to make it all happen? Do you have the resources you need to start small and be powerful?

Even if you can’t make it to Soul Sisters, I want to holdÂ space for your dreams. Send me your dream via snail mail in 100 words or less and I’ll keep it safeÂ in one of the beautiful cigar boxesÂ in my collection. I promise to water it with good thoughts, put it in the sunlight, and breathe over it with kindness. Send it by September 18th with a SASE and I’ll send you something dreamy in return, plusÂ I’ll put your dream in a drawing for aÂ Correspondence Coaching letter with thoughts and advice from one dreamer to another. Send your letter to:

I want to leave you today with a poem and prayer all in one, by that lover of whimsy and dreams, Shel Silverstien. This is my blessing for you today, my magpie friend.

If you are a dreamer, come in
If you are a dreamer, an hope-er, a liar
a wisher, aÂ pray-er a magic-bean-buyer,
if your a pretender come sit by my fire.
For we have some flax golden tales to spin.
Won’t anyone answer?
Come in. Come in.

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â€œWhen I turn to Rachelle for help, her words are like the fine tuning of my soulâ€“the interpretation of a truth that is sometimes hard to find. Itâ€™s golden to be heard and understood.â€

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-- Flock Member, Marie Tretiakova

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Testimonials

â€œWhen I turn to Rachelle for help, her words are like the fine tuning of my soulâ€“the interpretation of a truth that is sometimes hard to find. Itâ€™s golden to be heard and understood.â€

-- Flock Member, Tracey Henton

â€œI think it says a lot that I refer to this community mentally as â€˜my Flockâ€™. Thereâ€™s a sense when logging in of kicking back and relaxing, knowing that no-one is judging or trying to trip you up.â€

"With vision and heart, Rachelle brings her passionate commitment to soul-care to life, creating a nest for creative spiritual misfits looking for that just-right fit. Itâ€™s a gift of love and inspiration and lights a powerful way.â€

-- Jamie Ridler, certified life coach

"Rachelle seems to always know what I need to read. I savor her Flock emails like a piece of caramel. Then I give a *sigh* of comfort."

-- Flock Member, Marie Tretiakova

"Few people know how to tend the soul like Rachelle Mee-Chapman. A curator of everything exquisite and salvageable from the spiritual traditions. Rachelle understands how to craft a nest where comfort gives way to calling, where self-care reveals with compassion your finest, truest self."